Walter Wood Jr.

    Walter Amos Wood Jr., 79, 916 Main Ave, Clear Lake, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa from complications of heart disease.   A funeral service was held Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Diana Hoover officiating.  Interment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery with military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  Memorials may be addressed to Clear Lake School Air Plane Project, E.A.A. Treasurer, 3385 Saratoga Project, Mason City, Iowa 50401, Clear Lake United Methodist Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

     Walter Amos Wood Jr.  was born on the family farm south of Clear Lake and Bayside Park on June 26, 1932, the son of Walter Amos, Sr. and Alma (Crosby) Wood.  Having two older sisters, Amos was welcomed as their first son.  He attended Eden Country School through 8th grade and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1950.  Amos served in the Army, stationed in Germany, from 1951 to 1954.  He married Rachel Zirbel on Jan. 9, 1955, at the Swaledale Methodist Church.  To this union four children were born.
     Returning from Germany, Amos farmed with his parents and drove a milk truck route for the Clear Lake Creamery north of town and often picked up two 10-gallon cans of milk at a time.  He was employed as a mechanic by Jerry Dwyer at the airport, and for Phil Ong and Carl Woollums at John Deere Implement in Mason City.  
     Amos’ farming career progressed when Rachel’s dad sold him his machinery and rented them land and home near Zirbel Slough. Later, Amos and Rachel moved to their own farm west of Burchinal, Iowa where they and their children set up a progressive cattle feeding system, raised cattle and buffalo and expanded their farming acreage.  After selling the farm in 1982 they moved to Clear Lake and sustained his love for farming by working on the farm alongside his son, Dan, and continued sharing his valuable knowledge for many years until his death.  It was while working at the airport that Amos became enthused about flying.  He was a licensed pilot and built two airplanes in his workshop.  Each plane held two people and was capable of flying over 200 m.p.h.
     They traveled to Mesa, Az., in the winter and made many friends during the six seasons in Apache Wells RV Resort.  Their home was within one mile of Falcon Field where airplanes were a constant source of enjoyment.
     Amos is survived by his wife, Rachel Wood; children, Dan and wife, Wendy (French) of Garner, Iowa, Roger of Des Moines, Iowa and Dianne Bojorquez, Clear Lake;  grandchildren, Jennifer Brown, Joslyn Wood, Jacob Wood, Austin Wood, Alex and Gracie Bojorquez, and Millie Wood; great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Christian Brown; and siblings, Dolores Zirbel, Ellery and Donald Wood.
     Amos was preceded in death by his son, Walter Amos III (Jan. 23, 2001); sister, Faith Boyd (2007); brother, Jon Roger (infant 1943); father (1987); and mother (1993).
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.